The Springbok Sevens side needs to do well in the early rounds if they hope to reclaim the IRB Sevens Series title, says Paul Treu.

Treu and his charges are preparing for this weekend’s tournament in Dubai, the first leg of the 2010/11 series. The coach said he has high hopes of replicating the feats of 2008/09, where the Bok Sevens won in Dubai and George and went on to win the title.

‘We saw the value of a good start in 2008 and we will push hard to perform really well in Dubai and then back home in George,’ said Treu. He added that it will be harder with so many rookies in the squad.

‘In South Africa, it’s always going to be a challenge to get players released and we’re taking a very long term approach in terms of our development as a team with the ultimate goal being 2016, but our immediate goal is definitely to start well here in Dubai and then on home soil in George next weekend.

‘We didn’t do that last year and it’s going to be tough this year playing Scotland and Australia, who we lost to in Delhi at the Commonwealth Games and also in the Plate final in Dubai last year.’

South Africa’s games in Pool C are against Russia (09h54, SA time), Scotland (13h30) and Australia (17h36).